Caronia v. Civil Service Com'n of N.J.

• Citation: 71 A.2d 135,6 N.J.Super. 275
• Decision Date: 03 February 1950
• Docket Number: No. A--44,A--44
• Parties: CARONIA v. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY et al.
• Court: New Jersey Superior Court — Appellate Division

Page 275

6 N.J.Super. 275

71 A.2d 135

CARONIA v. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY et al.

No. A--44.

Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

Argued Jan. 23, 1950.

Decided Feb. 3, 1950.

Abraham L. Friedman, Newark, argued the cause for the plaintiff-appellant (Samuel L. Rothbard, Newark, of counsel; Rothbard, Harris & Oxfeld, Newark, attorneys).

John W. Griggs, Deputy Attorney General, argued the cause for the defendant-respondent Civil Service Commission of New Jersey (Theodore D. Parsons, Attorney General, attorney).

Edmond J. Dwyer, Orange, attorney for defendant-respondent City of Orange, argued the cause.

Before Judges McGEEHAN, COLIE and EASTWOOD.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

EASTWOOD, J.A.D.

The Civil Service Commission of New Jersey determined that the status of plaintiff, James Caronia, as a chanceman in the Police Department of the City of Orange, did not entitle him to preferential assignment to the duty performed by special officers in directing traffic at school intersections. Plaintiff appeals from that determination.

Caronia has been a chanceman of the City of Orange since 1924. As such, he is a member of the regular police department of that municipality. See Caronia v. Caldwell, 123 N.J.L. 266, 8 A.2d 700, 701 (E. & A.1939), wherein it was held that '* * * the chancemen are not temporary employees, but are regular members of the department appointed for part time service. They serve such days as they are required, and get paid only when they work, but they are regular members of the department entitled to tenure and to keep their positions unless discharged after hearing on charges, to the same extent as the Chief or any other member. * * *' As such chanceman, it is conceded that Caronia did regular police duty for the City of Orange for extended periods of time during the years 1944--1948 inclusive, but that no duty was assigned to him for the period from January 1, 1949 to May 23, 1949, during which latter period of time three special officers, appointed under authority of R.S. 40:47--19, N.J.S.A., performed special duty at school intersections, assembling school children and escorting them across the street. These special officers performed what is characterized as 'split shift' duty, that is, they escorted the school children across the street at the beginning of the morning session, then at noon time and at the conclusion of the afternoon session, in connection with which they did not wear a uniform nor were they permitted to use any clubs, revolvers or any other accessories usually carried by a regular police officer. The insignia of their authority was a shield worn on their caps and a police badge 'on their left breast.' Subsequent to May 23, 1949, Caronia has been assigned to and has performed regular police duty and was so engaged at the time of the hearing before the Civil Service Commission. His contention is limited to the period of January 1, 1949 to May 23, 1949, asserting that he was deprived of performing police duty and that his rights as a chanceman were violated when that duty was assigned to the special officers engaged for that purpose.

The City of Orange contends (1) that Caronia was offered school duty but refused to accept it; (2) that the duty performed by the special officers was not regular police duty and therefore, Caronia was not entitled as a matter of priority to that assignment; and (3) that the City of Orange was authorized under R.S. 40:47--19, N.J.S.A., to appoint and employ the three special officers for the school duty assignments.

There appears to be little disagreement about the factual situation, except with respect to the offer of the school duty assignment. Caronia admits that such an offer was made to him by the Director of Public Safety, but insists that the duty was to be performed as a special officer, and not as a chanceman. The evidence is clear that he refused to accept such an assignment unless it were as a chanceman and not as a special officer. It is conceded that the school duty was performed at all times by the special officers during the day time. Caronia admits that assignment to duty was made to him when he reported at the police department to ascertain if any employment was available; that during the entire period in question he never appeared at the police department during the day time to make such inquiry; that he reported nightly at 7:30 o'clock. Caronia's appeal might well be dismissed because of his refusal to accept the assignment to do school duty when offered to him. Assuming, but not conceding, that the school duty performed by the special officers was regular police duty, Caronia could not justifiably refuse to perform it by laying down a condition that it be specifically assigned to him as a chanceman. In fact. Caronia conceded the authority of the Police Commissioner to make an assignments when he testified: 'Q. But you were pretty well established on the night shift, weren't you? A. I was. It's customary to take any shift they want. It's up to them. I don't control what assignments they are going to put me on.' (Underscoring ours.) The regulation of the police force by assignment of its members to particular duties, according to the requirements of the service and the special fitness of the individual members for these duties, must certainly be left to the discretion of the appointing authority, if they are to have any...